Ice creeper



June '13, 1939. R KUTSCH 2,162,175

ICE CREEPER Filed Sept. 12, 1938 Z5 pclfiliisoil- INVENTOR ATTO R N EYSPatented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in ice creepers and has as one ofthe principal objects thereof the provision of a simple device of thischaracter which may be quickly attached to shoes of diiferentsizes andwhich may be adjusted to the width of the shoe as well as to the lengththereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which is durable in use, efiicient in operation, easy ofattachment and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as applied to a shoe.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken .on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 ofFigure 3 respectively.

My novel ice creeper comprises a pair of adjustable transverselydisposed upper and lower plates 5 and 6 respectively. The oppositelydisposed ends of said plates at the corners thereof are fashioned withupwardly extending arcuate shaped spaced jaws l, the upper ends of whichoverlie and grip the upper face of the sole 8 outwardly and adjacent thelower end of the upper 9 of a shoe H] as clearly illustrated in Figures1 and 2 of the .drawing. Each of the plates 5 and 6 are fashioned withslots II and [2 respectively adapted for registry with each other andextending through said slots is a bolt l3 having a head I4 overlying theupper plate 5 and said bolt subjacent the head 14 is provided with asquared section 15 engaging the side wall of the slot H to precluderotation of said bolt and the section of said bolt subjacent the section[5 is threaded and has threaded thereon a wing nut Hi.

The opposed faces of the plates 5 and 6 are provided with serrations llcoacting with each other to preclude relative movement of said plateswhen clamped together in adjusted position by said nuts I6 ashereinafter more fully set forth.

A pair of relatively narrow and elongated upper and lower plates l8 and[9 respectively underlie the plates 5 and 6 and extend at right anglesthereto. The upper face of the upper plate 18 is recessed between theends thereof to form a seat 20 which accommodates therein the plates 5and 6 and precludes lateral movement thereof relative to the plate I8.The upper plate I8 is also fashioned with an aperture 2| centrallydisposed relative to the recess and receives therethrough the bolt l3.The lower plate [9 is fashioned with a centrally disposed longitudinallyextending slot 22 for accommodating therethrough said bolt I3. One endof the plate [9 is provided with an angularly disposed downwardlyextending end section 23 which engages a front vertical face of the heel24 of the shoe Ill.

The oppositely disposed end of the upper plate I8 is fashioned with adownwardly and outwardly inclined section 25 provided with a pair ofspaced ice engaging teeth 26 and said section 25 at the jointure withthe plate "3 effects engagement with the outer face of the solesubjacent the instep of the shoe, it being understood that the teeth 26extend a sufficient distance below the ground engaging surface of thesole to effect engagement with the ice. The bolt l3 has mounted thereonbetween the plate l9 and the wing nut IS a lock washer 21 and the lowerend of said bolt is flared outwardly as at 28 to preclude detachment ofsaid wing nut therefrom. However, it is to be understood that the boltis of a sufficient length to permit adjustment of the wing nut l6thereon. The opposed or abutting faces of the plates l8 and I9 areprovided with serrations coacting with each other to preclude relativemovement of the plates l8 and I9 when the latter are securedin adjustedposition.

In use, the wing nut I6 is loosened on the bolt l3 and the plates 5 and6 are adjusted transversely relative to each other to permit the upperends of the jaws l to engage the sole 8 as clearly illustrated in Figure2 of the drawings. When the plates 5 and 6 arevthus adjustedtransversely of the shoe, the latter are adjusted longitudinally toeffect engagement of the jointure of the section 25 with the plate l8against the under face of the sole. When the parts are thus adjusted theplate I9 is adjusted lengthwise to effect engagement of the section 23thereof with the heel 24 and the wing nut 16 is tighened on the bolt l3to effect clamping of the plates together and maintain the devicesecured in operating position on the shoe.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a simpledevice capable of being adjusted to shoes of various sizes whereby theteeth 26 will effectively penetrate and grip icy surfaces to prevent thefeet of the user from slipping.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising, a pair of relativelyadjustable transversely extending plates each provided with solegripping jaws adapted for securing said plates to the sole of a shoe, apair of relatively adjustable 1ongitudinally extending plates, one ofsaid last mentioned plates fashioned with a recess for accommodatingsaid first mentioned plates in adjusted position, one of said lastmentioned plates fashioned with an angularly disposed ice engagingsection and the other of said last mentioned plates formed with a heelengaging section, and means securing said plates together in fixedcondition and operable to permit adjustment of one pair of said platesrelative to the other pair.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, a pair of relativelyadjustable transversely extending plates each provided with solegripping jaws adapted for securing said plates to the sole of a shoe, apair of relatively adjustable longitudinally extending plates, one ofsaid last mentioned plates fashioned with a recess for accommodatingsaid first mentioned plates in adjusted position, one of said lastmentioned plates fashioned with an angularly disposed ice engagingsection and the other of said last mentioned plates formed with a heelengaging section, and means securing said plates together in fixedcondition and operable to permit adjustment of one pair of said platesrelative to the other pair, each of said pair of plates fashioned withcoacting serrations on the opposed faces thereof to preclude relativemovement of the respective pairs when in adjusted position.

PAUL J. KLITSCH.

